Oh, lacking any nucleus, you do have a cell wall
You live in water, air, and soil, and anywhere at all
You reproduce by fission, and you do so very fast
And under harsh conditions in an endospore do last

Chorus 1: Oh bacteria, though simple and so small—
Without you ecosystems would not function well at all

For decomposing things that die, a saprophyte we need
But some are parasitic: on a living host will feed
For taking nitrogen from air, and fixing it into
The soil for plants to use, I’m sure they’re all grateful to you

Chorus 1: Oh bacteria, though simple and so small—
Without you ecosystems would not function well at all

In dairy products you have shown yourself a cultured friend
And to genetic engineers, your DNA you lend
You even help to fight diseases caused by your brethren
You make antibiotics which destroy or weaken them

Chorus 2: Oh bacteria, though only single-celled
A most important organism we have now beheld

Though most of you are helpful in some of these mentioned ways
There are a few who have to do a bit with some disease
Producing toxin, or the cells attacking directly:
Diphtheria, pneumonia, strep throat, tetanus, and TB

Chorus 2: Oh bacteria, though only single-celled
A most important organism we have now beheld

We do appreciate you and your praises we do sing
Yet some of you make life so hard with troubles that you bring
Our food you spoil, our crops you rot, our animals attack
With botulism, different rots, cholera, and anthrax

Chorus 2: Oh bacteria, though only single-celled
A most important organism we have now beheld